French Toast Panini With Grilled Bananas

Ready in 45 minutes
Prep: 15 minutes
Inactive: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes

Yield: 4 panini

Ingredients

6 large eggs
1 cup of whole milk
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1/4 cup of fresh orange juice (from about 1 medium orange)
2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
2 tablespoons of cognac (optional)
2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Salt
8 slices of Texas toast or other thick white bread
3 large ripe bananas
2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Confectioners' sugar, for garnish
Pure maple syrup, for garnish

Directions 

First whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, cognac, orange juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, granulated sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Then place the bread in two shallow baking dishes in a single layer. After that pour the egg mixture over the bread; let soak for ten minutes.

Next, preheat a grill to medium while the bread is soaking. Then place a flat cast-iron skillet on the grill and brush the bananas with the melted butter; you should cook in the skillet until they are browned on all sides and beginning to release their juices, for about three minutes. Then use a spatula to transfer the bananas to a plate, and wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel. 

Cut the bananas into 1/2-inch-thick slices when they are cool enough to handle. After that remove a piece of bread from the egg mixture, allowing the excess to drip off. Then place on a cutting board, top with four or five banana slices, and then cover with another piece of bread. 

After that brush the skillet on the grill lightly with vegetable oil and add the sandwich to the pan; and then place a grill press or heavy pan over the sandwich to weigh it down. Then cook until the bread is nicely toasted and golden, 3-4 minutes. Then flip, press and cook on the other side until golden. Keep warm and repeat with the remaining bread and bananas, adding more oil as needed. In the end transfer the panini to plates and slice in half diagonally and top with confectioners' sugar and plenty of maple syrup. Enjoy.